TOKYO (FIBA World Championship 2010) - Turkish fans are looking forward to hosting the world's most prestigious basketball event in 2010, after their country achieved the best ever international result in a FIBA World Championship.

At only their second appearance, the "12 Giant Men", with a completely revamped and rejuvenated team, reached a historic 6th place at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. They claimed the 9th position in 2002 in Indianapolis.

Turgay Demirel, President of the Turkish Basketball Federation said "This result will give us a real boost for the preparation of the event. Together with FIBA, we will work on a 4-year promotional plan across all continents in order to further enhance the high profile of this world class event."

"Turkey has proven that they deserved the wild card for the FIBA World Championship," added FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann. "We look forward working together with them in the upcoming four years. We are sure that with the passion for basketball of the young Turkish population it will be a great success."

The Turkish organizers have been omnipresent during the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan with promotional booths in all venues, courtside signage and information material. They will also play a role in the closing ceremony on Sunday 3rd September.

The 2010 edition of the FIBA World Championship will be played again with the best 24 teams from the world, as the 2006 World Championship has demonstrated the balanced and competitive level of all participating teams.

The FIBA World Championship is played every 4 years and determines the best basketball nation of the world. The first World Championship was played in 1950 in Argentina and since then, has been organized 15 times.

Yugoslavia is leading the role of honor with 5 gold medals followed by the Soviet Union and USA with 3 gold medals each.

FIBA has increased the number of teams playing at the FIBA World Championship from 16 to 24 teams in 2006 because of the increased level of basketball around the world and the increasing number of competitive teams at the highest level.